$840 fine for 4 chickens in Vacaville CA

It's like a drive-by shooting... and poof they were gone. Kinda wish they would come back and give us some closure.
 
I would like to know what happened too. I live in Vacaville and just got our flock. Every single thing I have come across and everyone I have asked states that in Vacaville, chickens (hens) are allowed.
 
As someone living in vacaville and just in my begining research for chicken laws, I looked up the animal code on the city website and found a few of these interesting in relation to the animal control person who came around.

As far as possesion of an animal in less than 1 acre:


6.04.040 Animals Prohibited on less than one-acre lots.

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no person shall keep, corral or harbor any cow, horse, sheep, goat, hog or cloven hooved animal in the city on any single parcel of property less than one acre in size. (Ord. 1462 §3, 1992: Ord. 1286 §1(6.4), 1986).

Obviously does not apply since these are chickens and not cloven hooved animals.


And as far as at large:

6.04.140 Rabbits and fowl – Running at large – Nuisance declared.

It is declared to be a nuisance and no person shall suffer or permit any chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys, pheasants, doves, pigeons, squabs or similar fowl or rabbits owned or controlled by him to run or fly at large or go upon the premises of any other person in the city. (Ord. 1286 §1 (6.14), 1986).

Obviously does not apply if they are never leaving your yard. Hope this helps.
 
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I would sure like an update on how your case turned out. I, too, have girls in Vacaville. The guy at the feed store said we could have three hens, no roosters. Raki, Ouzo, and Oghi are more pets than farm animals. I get a few eggs, I keep my run clean, and Australorps are more quiet than my neighbor's dog.

 
Im willing to bet that one of your neighbors called and complained. Thats most likely why the officer came by to begin with. Unfortunately you're probably gonna have to go and defend yourself in court. This guy's "boss" will most likely defend his actions regardless if he's in the wrong or not.
We have one neighbor, fortunately he's on the next street over, and he called code enforcement out here within 6 hours of the first time I up the chicks into the yard. We got lucky because the permit we had from our old house transferred. so the inspector made sure our coop was situated correctly and went on his way.

All this is because soon after we both this house we trimmed back our neglected Laural hedge (it's 100 feet long and before we trimmed it, it was over 20 feet deep and 30 feet high) without consulting him. Even though it's filled in already and both our yards are private again, he' sstill PO'ed . Now he's in a snit because the ($5,000) retaining wall we installed to keep our yard from eroding into his yard. is, according to Mr Personality, four inches over onto his "property". Apparent he put the fence up that has been there since 1962 inside his property line to avoid putting up a retaining wall and I was supposed to intude this. Yep, there's one in every neighborhood.
 
As someone living in vacaville and just in my begining research for chicken laws, I looked up the animal code on the city website and found a few of these interesting in relation to the animal control person who came around.

As far as possesion of an animal in less than 1 acre:


6.04.040 Animals Prohibited on less than one-acre lots.

Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, no person shall keep, corral or harbor any cow, horse, sheep, goat, hog or cloven hooved animal in the city on any single parcel of property less than one acre in size. (Ord. 1462 §3, 1992: Ord. 1286 §1(6.4), 1986).

Chickens have only been allowed in the yard here in Salem Oregon for about a year but there is no law agains having pigs. Go figure.
 

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